Tech:NYC Digest: February 24

Tech:NYC Digest: February 24

February 24, 2021 • Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes

Wednesday, February 24, 2021As the vaccination rollout progresses and NYC continues to respond to the pandemic, this digest focuses on the resources that help you make decisions about your businesses and your lives as New Yorkers.Was this digest forwarded to you? Subscribe here.

The latest: J&J vaccine gets closer to FDA approval, pharma to supply 20 million doses by end of March; NYC middle schools begin in-person learning tomorrow, 25 percent of DOE teachers and other building staff vaccinated; LinkedIn survey shows employee happiness up 5.4 percent year-over-year; open the windows, get outside, and enjoy the warm weather!

By the Numbers:

  • New York State: 1,597,774 (+6,189)

  • New York City: 694,438 (+3,363)  

  • Statewide Fatalities: 38,135 (+99)

  • NYC Positivity Rates:

    • NYS reports: 4.3 percent (-0.2 percent)

    • NYC reports: 7.2 percent (-0.1 percent)

General Updates:

  • The one-dose vaccine from Johnson & Johnson was found to be safe and effective by the FDA, clearing the way for its emergency use authorization to be granted as early as this weekend. (New York Times) The drugmaker has said it will have 20 million doses available by the end of March. (MarketWatch)

  • More than 150 CEOs — including those representing several Tech:NYC members — have urged Congress to quickly pass Pres. Biden’s stimulus package proposal. (CNBC) The House is expected to vote on the measure as early as Friday. (Reuters)

  • Moderna is starting a new clinical trial to test a booster against the South Africa variant. The original vaccine has been shown to produce fewer antibodies against that mutation. (USA Today)

The latest results: For better or for worse, 2021 mayoral candidates are getting a lot of Zoom time. But if you’re not a candidate or political reporter, this is truly unprecedented access to the people in the race, their platforms and their personal lives. Have you attended a virtual mayoral forum this year?

Today's poll

: The network of websites to schedule a vaccine appointment in New York have proven challenging to navigate. The

when eligibility expands and other

means many have needed help with the tools. Naturally, they

. Have you helped someone register to get a vaccine?

 

 

 

  • *|SURVEY: Yes, and it was relatively easy|*

  • *|SURVEY: Yes, but it was difficult|*

  • *|SURVEY: I'm still trying to help book an appointment|*

  • *|SURVEY: No|*

Find the poll results from all previous editions of this newsletter here.

  • The efficacy of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, especially because it’s a one-dose regimen, is anticipated to help NYC public health officials quickly accelerate plans to provide door-to-door service for residents who can’t leave their homes or otherwise get to a vaccination site. (New York Post)

  • Mayor de Blasio said today he expects to announce plans for the reopening of NYC public high schools in the next few weeks. (amNY) Middle schools reopen for in-person learning tomorrow, and at least 30,000 teachers and staff across the city have been vaccinated so far. (New York Post)

  • New York State has reported its second known case of the South Africa strain, in Nassau County, and the number of confirmed UK strain cases has jumped to 154, 54 percent of which are in the city’s five boroughs. (NBC New York)

  • A special city council election in Queens has triggered the first run of ranked choice selections after no candidate emerged with a clear majority of first picks. The winner of the nine-way split will not be known until sometime next month. (THE CITY)

Related reading:

  • Yes, it’s time to safely bring back performances in NYC (New York Daily News)

  • Data Shows Truck Traffic Roaring Back In NYC, But Fewer Cars And Buses (Gothamist)

Working:

  • Lack of child care is now the third-most cited reason for not working, behind layoffs and furloughs. At the very beginning of the pandemic, it ranked fifth. (Axios) NYC has seen as much as 240,000 cases of labor market dropouts related to child care.

  • Employee happiness is up 5.4 percent from Dec. 2019 to Dec. 2020, according to a survey of more than nine million workers conducted by LinkedIn. (Axios)

  • Delta CEO Ed Bastian predicts a comeback for business travel, but he says providing a solution to the sustainability and ESG investments companies are making will be a critical component of that return. (Bloomberg) In the shorter-term, the airline will continue to block middle seat bookings at least through summer 2021.

Related reading:

  • 8 challenges for business leaders that will shape year 2 of COVID-19 (Fast Company)

  • The New WFH Uniform: A Business Suit That’s Pajamas, Too (Wall Street Journal)

Request: please let us know as your return-to-office policies are developed and what considerations your companies are taking for developing them. Sharing this information is helpful to companies and employees across the NYC ecosystem and can be kept anonymous.

Recruit: A tech talent and job opportunities board from Tech:NYC and AlleyCorp compiles NYC tech workers looking for new roles and NYC-based tech companies hiring open positions. To contribute to the board, click here.

Check these sources for verified information from government agencies and public health authorities:

Was this digest forwarded to you? Sign up to

.